Many veterans develop high blood pressure while serving in the military or after leaving the military due to various conditions, injuries, or exposures while serving in the military. In certain circumstances, a veteran with hypertension may secure VA disability benefits through statutory presumptions that link their condition to their military service. As a result, when you have hypertension after serving in the military, you may have the right to claim VA disability benefits under new legal presumptions for service connections.
Understanding Hypertension for VA Disability Claims
Hypertension refers to a medical condition in which a person has persistent high blood pressure for their age and activity. High blood pressure can pose a significant risk factor for numerous serious medical issues, such as stroke/heart attack, heart disease, and kidney damage.
The VA Schedule for Rating Disabilities evaluates hypertension under diagnostic code 7101 – hypertensive vascular disease. The VA rates hypertension at disability ratings of 10, 20, 40, or 60, depending on a veteran’s blood pressure:
- 10 – Diastolic pressure predominantly 100 or more, or systolic pressure 160 or more, or requires continuous medication for blood pressure control
- 20 – Diastolic pressure predominantly 110 or more, or systolic pressure predominantly 200 or more
- 40 – Diastolic pressure predominantly 120 or more
- 60 – Diastolic pressure predominantly 130 or more
New Presumptive Service Connections for Hypertension
The PACT Act established hypertension as a presumptively service-connected condition for veterans exposed to Agent Orange during the Vietnam War era. This statutory presumption eliminates the need for a veteran to establish a service connection for their hypertension – now the VA presumes that a veteran with a qualifying service history developed hypertension due to their military service. The PACT Act presumes that a veteran had exposure to Agent Orange if they served in specific locations during specific time frames, including:
- In the Republic of Vietnam, aboard a U.S. military vessel in the inland waterways of Vietnam, or aboard a vessel within 12 nautical miles from the demarcation line of the waters of Vietnam and Cambodia, between January 9, 1962, and May 7, 1975
- In any U.S. or Royal Thai military base in Thailand from January 9, 1962, through June 30, 1976
- In Laos from December 1, 1965 through September 30, 1969
- In Cambodia at Mimot or Krek, from April 16, 1969, through April 30, 1969
- In Guam, American Samoa, or off their territorial waters, from January 9, 1962, through July 31, 1980
- In Johnston Atoll or aboard a vessel that called at Johnston Atoll from January 1, 1972, through September 30, 1977
Evidentiary Requirements
To succeed in a VA disability claim for hypertension, a veteran will need to provide various forms of evidence of a hypertension diagnosis, including:
- Medical documentation, including military, VA, and private healthcare treatment records, such as medication records and regular blood pressure readings over time
- Compensation and pension exam results, which may test blood pressure under various scenarios
Common Challenges in Hypertension Claims
Some of the primary issues that veterans can face when pursuing VA disability benefit claims for hypertension include:
- Lack of medical evidence, including insufficient nexus opinions from healthcare providers
- Lack of documentation of elevated blood pressure
- Underrating of disability claims due to medication to treat hypertension
- Misinterpretation of symptoms to rating criteria.
Contact a VA Disability Lawyer Today
When you have high blood pressure caused by a medical condition related to your military service, you may have the right to obtain VA disability benefits through legal presumptions for a service connection. Contact Veterans Law Attorneys today for a free, no-obligation consultation with a VA disability benefits attorney to learn more about your rights to obtain disability benefits from the VA for service-connected hypertension.
